AMARILLO, Texas — Shannon Nicole Washer, 36, of Borger, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to10 months in federal prison, following her guilty plea in October 2011 to one count of dealing in counterfeit currency, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, Walker, who owns a restaurant in Borger, passed $440 in counterfeit currency at Buttons, Bows, and Balloons in Panhandle, Texas, on August 9, 2011. Then, on August 12, 2011, she passed $180 in counterfeit currency at Allsups in Dumas, Texas; on the same day, she attempted to pass a $100 counterfeit note at the Valero South and Pak-a-Sak in Dumas. Later that day, she attempted to make a $151 purchase at Hobby Lobby in Amarillo, Texas, using counterfeit notes. The investigation revealed that she had also passed a counterfeit note at a Sonic in Amarillo. When apprehended, she was carrying additional counterfeit notes and a search of her vehicle revealed additional counterfeit notes and some sheets of paper that appeared to have counterfeit notes cut from them.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christ L. Drake, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Amarillo, was in charge of the prosecution.